This Movie is Rated PG-13 – For Thematic Elements Related to Suicide, and For Language and Some Sensuality
Julian Po (Christian Slater) is on his way to the ocean when his car breaks down. He walks to the nearest town and checks into a hotel for the night. Expecting to leave the next morning, but things don’t go as planned, so he decides that he will stay a while longer.
The town he stopped in is very small so obviously they are all very intrigued by the stranger that has arrived. The Mayor and Sheriff are suspicious of him and decide that he should be under constant surveillance. Everywhere Julian goes he is under scrutiny by the townspeople and the gossip surrounding him just keeps growing.
Finally, they can’t take it anymore and confront him in the diner. After being pestered by them and being accused of terrible things, he finally breaks down and tells them that he came there to kill himself. This is a turning point for the townspeople; they start going out of their way to be nice to him.
Of course their way of being nice is pretty invasive. Such as, the mayor just walking into his room unannounced to ask him to come over for dinner. Or when he goes out for a walk a whole bunch of people follow him. They also start giving him all kinds of gifts, ranging from homemade food to a new suit.
Julian starts having all kinds of random people dropping by his hotel room to visit him and try to find out why he wants to kill himself. They also start telling him about their life and/or troubles and he ends up inadvertently giving them advice (at least they take it as such, even though that’s not what he intended).
One of the people that visits him is Sarah (Robin Tunney). She said she had dreamt about him and has been waiting for him all her life. She is beautiful and he is instantly drawn to her. He starts to think that maybe there is something to live for after all.
Things start getting even stranger as the people in the town start giving him advice about the best way to kill himself. One of the elderly ladies has started a raffle so people can bet on the day they think he will do it. The guy that runs the hotel even gives him a gun that he can use.
It’s a journey of discovery for both Julian and the townspeople. After talking to him and telling him their secrets many begin to reassess their lives and start making changes. Some for the better, some maybe not so good.
Christian was terrific. As you can imagine the main focus is on his character, either when he’s by himself taking into his tape recorder or when he is dealing with the rather eccentric people of the town. He is able to keep a scene interesting even when there isn’t much going on. His interaction with the other actors was equally as good. I particularly enjoyed him with Lucy (Cherry Jones). Her character couldn’t hear or speak, but that didn’t stop them from having some wonderful scenes together.
Some of my favorite quotes:
Julian – “Of all the places I’ve never been it’s the one that I love the most.”
Mayor – “Julian P … o. Jesus, what the hell kind of name is that?”
Julian – “Anyway, I’m pretty used to being anonymous. I don’t mean that in a bad way. It’s just that’s how I am. I don’t think it’s possible to be anonymous here.”
Julian – “Why is everyone in this town looking at me? What am I some kind of freak?”
Lilah – “Must be something in the water around here makes everyone a moron.”
Pastor Bean – “Have you ever done this before?”
Julian – “Killed myself?”
Pastor Bean – “No, no. Of course, you’re alive, aren’t you?”
Julian – “I’m not going to kill myself today. You can all just go home.”
Towns Person – “Well, there’s always tomorrow.”
Julian – “Everyone’s time is short. Yours too. It’s an illusion that we have forever to live.”
Julian – “We always wait too long to do the things we want to do and then, before you know it, it’s too late.”
Mr. Potter – “I want you to wear my suit Mr. Po. I want to be part of your adventure.”
Julian – “Didn’t you hear me? I said I’m not gonna do it today. Why are you guys still following me?”
Walter – “A guy who’d kill himself might lie.”
Julian – “I think God … if there even is a God has a lot to apologize for, and he does it in heaven. And if he doesn’t feel like apologizing then you’re in hell.”
Old Woman – “Mr. Po, hang on a few more days, make me a rich woman.”
Julian – “A lot of things I regret but nothing more than the things I was too scared to do.”
Jan
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I think it was an interesting twist at the end when Julian has changed his mind about killing himself but the townspeople aren’t happy about it. Basically, they said he should keep his word. The whole town trusted him and felt sorry for him and it’s time for him to do what he said he would.
Seeing Lucy with all of Julian’s stuff around her bedroom as she plays his tapes (which she can’t hear). It was so touching and sad. I think she was the only one in the town that really cared about him and she’s the only one that can’t actually get comfort from listening to the tapes he made.
Tags: cherry jones, christian slater, dvd, movie, review, robin tunney, suicide
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